Creating a good hotel, Mark Twain wrote in 1898, “is an art apart,” and he went on to quote (of all people) Saint Francis of Assisi: “All saints can do miracles, but few of them can keep hotel.” Nothing has changed. Finding hotels created by true masters of hospitality is still the holy grail of travel—and the great and fun exercise of all publications that cover it. With good reason.

A poor hotel can ruin a trip; a superlative one can transform your life—or at least it feels that way. For this special section we took the exercise to the nth degree. We convened a roundtable of 34 insiders who regularly travel the world to discover the best experiences out there. We asked them for names of places they absolutely loved that had opened (or reopened) in the last two years, and what they loved about them.

We received 193 vetted nominations from all around the globe. Then we raised the bar further: Just how exceptional are the locations? The room design? The food? The activities? We culled some more. And then again. To follow are the results of our deliberations. The cream of the crop of the newest places to stay in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Australia, Asia and the Indian Ocean, the Americas, and the United States. They include everything from slick city aeries to rustic five-room lodges in the middle of gorgeous nowhere. Each, we believe, is worth building a trip around. I like to think Saint Francis would agree. Consider it the T&C guarantee. —Klara Glowczewska

OUR JURY A panel of travel experts helped compile the 2018 T&C Hotel Awards. They have all stayed at these properties, have sent travelers there, and also design fantastic custom trips. Their names appear at the end of each hotel write-up, and their contact information and details are here.

Germany’s progressive city finally gets a dazzling contemporary luxury hotel. Jan Störmer’s bold, curvy design (no two walls are parallel—they’re rarely even straight) mirrors the waters of Lake Alster and the park in which it’s set. Best of all, Herzog & de Meuron’s phenomenal new Elbphilharmonie cultural center is nearby.

Wow Factor: The almost 360-degree views from the top-floor Fontenay Bar and terrace.

Set high above the lake, this four-hotel aerie and state-of-the-art medical center has some of the most spectacular views in Switzerland—as restorative as the hiking, tennis, golf, mountain biking, and 108,000-square-foot spa with its encyclopedic range of treatments.

Wow Factor: The lightning-fast outdoor elevator (500 feet in under a minute) that takes you from near the resort’s hotels to the top of the world.

Paris Eighteenth-century elegance is back with fresh new twists at the most Parisian palace in the French capital, housed in a 1758 building on the Place de la Concorde. Among the additions: two exquisitely over-the-top Karl Lagerfeld–designed Grand Appartements, a barbershop and a shoecare “salon” by Devoirdecourt, and—this is fun—wineglasses with stems but no bases, a design Marie-Antoinette concocted so that partially full glasses couldn’t be put down.

This private club in the financial district is Soho House on steroids: 250 rooms, 10 restaurants, spa, gym, and rooftop pool. Some rooms give guests full access to members-only spaces. Details from the building’s former life as the Midland Bank—teller cubicles, a cupboard for top hats—are unlike anything else in the city.

To enjoy these geothermal waters without the crowds, Bill Gates reserved the entire lagoon. Stay here and you have it to yourself before it opens for the day. The hotel’s 62 sleek suites are built on lava fields surrounding the lagoon, and some have direct access to it.

Wow Factor: The underground spa, which winds through heat chambers before you’re doused with salt, silica, and algae.

Nothing new in France comes close to this all-suite, ultracontemporary hotel set in the vineyard of Château La Coste and surrounded by astonishing works of art by Tadao Ando, Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois… The list goes on and on.

Wow Factor: Everything. But the Michelin-starred Louison restaurant, enclosed in glass and set in a garden, is almost surreal; it makes dining an artistic experience.

One of Ireland’s best hotels even before its two-year, megamillion renovation, it’s now one of the finest country resorts in the world. The falconry, fishing, and archery are better than ever, and the Tom Fazio golf course is rumored to be a future Ryder Cup venue.

Wow Factor: The Gallery may well be the most extraordinary room for breakfast ever.

Michael Caines, one of the UK’s top chefs, has assembled a dream team for this contemporary country house hotel, with 21 luxurious rooms and suites and its own vineyard in the works. The location is perfect for exploring the West Country scenery, from the Jurassic Coast to Dartmoor National Park.

The home-run hotel in the Eternal City, reinvented by the Dorchester Collection with no expense spared. The staff lends warmth and energy to this oasis near the Spanish Steps, and the urban-chic renovation perfectly blends Italian elegance and Roman elements. Case in point: the lobby, among the world’s most beautiful.

Wow Factor: The views from the rooftop restaurant and the Bellavista Penthouse Suite, which turns into an open-air room.

This contemporary hotel just outside town and built around Pedro Subijana’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant Akelarre is a breath of architectural fresh air in a city known for its classical beauties—check out the dramatic steel spiral staircase. The 22-room foodie heaven also has mesmerizing views of pastureland and grazing cattle.

Its location is as perfect as when it opened in 1893—on the Piazza della Repubblica between the Uffizi and the Duomo—but it has undergone a dramatic renovation: 16-foot ceilings in the lobby, Florentine sculpture and paintings, custom furniture and fabrics by local artisans, and bigger rooms.

Wow Factor: The two-story Panoramic Suite, with its rooftop views, and the Duomo Presidential Suite, which looks out on Brunelleschi’s masterpiece.

Ten minutes from the prettiest village in the French Alps, these four interconnected alpine chalets with 55 rooms are ­contemporary-chic on the inside, with some of Baroness Ariane de Rothschild’s art collection on display. Plus: a Kids Kingdom, a Teen Zone, and the largest spa in the Alps.

Wow Factor: Helicopter ski safaris that get you to the slopes of Chamonix, Courchevel, and Val d’Isère, with views of Mont Blanc along the way.

A welcome newcomer in Torno, from designer Patricia Urquiola, for those ready for a break from the lake’s grande dame hotels. All 30 contemporary suites have floor-to-ceiling windows and lakeside terraces, and there’s a jaw-dropping infinity pool suspended over the lake, a Michelin-starred restaurant, a Valmont spa, and a small, sandy beach.

Wow Factor: Town-hopping along the lake in one of the hotel’s custom Riva boats.

With only eight suites in the heart of the village of Oia, a staff/guest ratio of 3:1, and to-die-for views of the caldera, this is Greece’s ultimate boutique hotel experience. And the property can be transformed into a 10-­bedroom villa for an intimate celebration.

The first true luxury lodge in Rwanda, and the ideal base from which to see its famed mountain gorillas (the trekking center is 25 minutes away). Magically situated, with views from each room and bathroom of three volcanoes in the Virunga range, it also has a wine cellar (just the thing after a giant primate encounter) and the best-curated crafts in Rwanda.

The only camp in a beautiful 77,000-acre wildlife-rich concession (palm-dotted islands, floodplains, woodlands) that is also prime lion-viewing territory (the owners filmed the acclaimed The Last Lions in the area). The five huge tented rooms evoke—and surpass—classic 1920s safari style, and the guides and chef are superb.

The much-anticipated rebuilding of what may be the best game-viewing lodge in Africa. Lush grasses lure hordes of antelope, and the predators follow—lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, wild dog. Mombo was one of the first lodges to transport endangered white and black rhinos from South Africa to safety here—be sure to get a conservation talk.

This small, chic, “simple luxury” hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows is a game changer for Ethiopia—finally, a place to stay amid the splendor of Simien Mountains National Park, whose astonishing ochre pinnacles—mounds, needles, spires—earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Wow Factor: Trekking in a landscape older than the Rift Valley, and 700-strong troupes of gorgeous blond gelada monkeys, which live only here.

The luxury brand’s first foray into Rwanda (another is coming soon—this country is hot) is set on a working tea plantation, at the edge of Nyungwe Forest National Park. One of Africa’s oldest forests, it’s home to 13 species of primate and more than 300 of bird.

Wow Factor: Walking in a world of mahoganies, giant ferns, orchids, great blue turacos—as if Rousseau had painted it.

A beloved country hotel set in a private garden in Fransch­hoek village has undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation that combined the original Cape Victorian architecture with cool modernism. A fresh base for exploring the pleasures of the Cape Winelands.

Wow Factor: The Petite Colombe restaurant, in a glass conservatory with dark steel framing. Book well ahead.

One of the most spectacular contemporary hotels in the world. The whimsical suites are like magical beehives with sweeping views from their vast honeycomb windows of Table Mountain and the Victoria & Albert Waterfont. The hotel occupies six floors above a 1920s grain silo, the lower floors of which house South Africa’s other new spectacular opening: the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.

Any trip to Rwanda and its gorillas should also include the Genocide Memorial—so two nights in Kigali. This lovely 11-suite boutique lodge, created by American former NGO workers who came to help and couldn’t bear to leave, is the new, soulful place to stay. Besides the museum, you can ride horses on Mount Kigali, bike with a Team Rwanda pro, and have a meal with a rural family.

The sand is so white and the water so blue, you could happily pitch a tent. Instead you get 14 gorgeous villas, brainchild of French-Mauritian financier Thierry Dalais. The underwater wondersare as exciting—you can scuba, snorkel, fish. (Plan carefully: Weather is variable.)

Wow Factor: Taking a helicopter to the mainland to see the golden-crowned sifaka lemurs.

Just offshore, on Jumeira Bay Island, the Bvlgari combines the tranquillity and privacy of a low-rise, sand-in-your-toes hotel with the drama of Dubai’s rearing skyline. Plus all the elegant Bvlgari brand refinements: a spa with some of the city’s best treatments, a yacht marina, and handmade chocolate delicacies.

Located in the historically Arab and now artsy neighborhood of Jaffa, full of history and character, this hotel is a standout on the Israeli coast, an appealing mix of modern design and luxury, with the bones and details of a restored Ottoman-era building. We love the many gathering spaces and courtyards.

Not your average country escape. High style and sophistication—moody charcoal interiors, glass-fronted rooms (46 of them), gloriously deep black bathtubs, a 30-meter infinity pool—in the midst of Willow Creek Vineyard. And there are 50 other cellar doors to choose from in the region. Plus beaches.

No wonder Kate and William stayed here. These 15 sophisticated tented pavilions on a dune in Australia’s “Red Center” let you wake up in comfort and style to watch the changing colors as the sun rises over Uluru (aka Ayers Rock)—Australia’s killer view. Newly renovated, with king-size beds, indigenous artworks, a spa, and a new two-bedroom Dune Pavillion.

Bolivia’s high-altitude capital is hot on the heels of Lima and Santiago as Latin America’s foodie hub. This is its first high-end hotel for leisure travelers, with a lively vibe, colorful local ­artworks, and the ONA restaurant, which focuses on homegrown culinary talent.

Wow Factor: The views of the cityscape and mountains from the glass-walled rooftop pool and bar.

One of Mexico’s top colonial cities now has the hotel it deserves: exceptionally remodeled buildings around a courtyard with a 300-year-old chapel. Furnishings and decor are made by Mexican craftspeople, and the aura is high-end art gallery—plus embossed headboards and freestanding copper tubs.

Wow Factor: The view from the rooftop bar and pool of the skyline and the Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes.

The first five-star beachfront hotel on St. Kitts is among the most exciting resorts in the Caribbean, with gorgeous views of cloud-topped Mount Nevis across the Narrows. The look is contemporary, with stone accents, and there are two pools, three restaurants—and peace all around (the area is still largely undeveloped).

Wow Factor: The 5,210-square-foot Presidential Villas and the Miraval spa.

With this latest addition to Rio’s luxury hotel scene, the girl from Ipanema is now hanging out at this cool, contemporary place in rising Copacabana. We love the white Swiss cheese façade, the L-shaped pool, and the views—which are arguably the best in town—of the entire bay and Sugarloaf.

Wow Factor: The rooftop Spa Suites, which have their own saunas and bathtubs looking down on the beach below.

Brazil’s economic and cultural capital now has a palace-style hotel (part of the Oetker Collection), with much marble and many crystal chandeliers, set within lush Burle Marx Park, with an extensive spa and a restaurant by Jean-Georges ­Vongerichten. It’s the best way to escape the concrete jungle, and it’s also the city’s only luxury hotel truly suitable for families.

The first luxury property on the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls, a natural wonder of the world. The 14 African lodge–style villas in the Atlantic rainforest are like treehouses on stilts; each comes with a plunge pool, 4WD vehicle, driver, and guide. Food is a key part of the experience (it’s a Relais & Châteaux property).

This 145-room resort is part of the private beach ­community of Costa Palmas, on the eastern shore of Baja (the “secret cape”). The standouts: airy minimalist design, marina, organic farm, and Robert Trent Jones II golf course (the most challenging in Los Cabos). And two miles of swimmable beach—a rarity here.

Wow Factor: The vast sports complex, a magnet for kids of all ages. The whole place is perfect for families and sports lovers.

This is the newest addition to the chilled-out, 1,200-acre Fasano Las Piedras development, inland from the crowded beaches of Punta del Este. It’s a strikingly minimal hotel with 10 rooms (each with a terrace) and a rooftop pool. There is also an equestrian center and a small riverside beach.

Wow Factor: The views of the rolling Uruguayan countryside from the rooftop terrace—especially dazzling at sunset.

The first luxury hotel—finally!—in South America’s best yachting area: a glorious bay of 365 islands fronted by rainforest and yellow beaches, 40 minutes by helicopter from Rio, that has long been a haunt of Brazilianaires. The low-rise, 60-suite property, with lots of wood, has a huge swimming pool, beach, and marina.

Wow Factor: The Crudo restaurant is getting raves, and the kids club is a work of art.

The attention to detail in this new sleeper train running between Arequipa and Cusco is so astonishing it’s like a luxury hotel on wheels. A staff of 30 serves the 24 cabins, there’s an onboard spa, and chef Diego Muñoz (of Astrid y Gaston fame) created the menus.

Wow Factor: Downing pisco sours in the observation car while watching a herd of wild vicuñas on the altiplano.

This is the first five-star hacienda in the Yucatan’s interior and one of the top places to stay in Mexico. We love: the cutting-edge mix of historic and modern design; the casitas, ­surrounded by gardens; the world class wellness program (with a spa built around a cenote); the exceptional food (chef Jorge Vallejo’s Mexico City restaurant just made the top 50 in the world).

The major new resort on Providenciales’s almost impossibly white Long Bay Beach. It’s windier than Grace Bay but ideal for water sports—and practically deserted. The three- to six-bedroom villas, like the suites, have striking mostly white decor that sets off perfectly the incandescent blue of the water. Plus: four pools, three restaurants, a kids club, and a spa (of course).

The new boutique luxury property in Puebla, a UNESCO World Heritage city, housed in a mashup of a modern building and two restored 18th-century casonas, is just three blocks from the main square. Each of the 78 rooms is different, and the rooftop bar and pool look out over churches, colonial rooftops, and bell towers.

Wow Factor: The Cartesiano Spa, one of the most beautiful wellness facilities in Puebla.

—Zachary Rabinor

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United States

From Alaskan adventures to a foodie heaven in Healdsburg, it really is America the beautiful.

This tiny five-bedroom property perched on five private acres 6,000 feet up in Denali National Park is hands down the crown jewel of the Alaskan wilderness experience. It overlooks the most dramatic vistas in the Alaska Range, and activities include heli-skiing, glacier trekking, and snowshoeing—plus feasting on the finest Alaskan seafood.

The fiercely whimsical Kit Kemp opened her second New York Firmdale outpost last year on 56th Street, complementing the wildly successful Crosby Street Hotel. As expected, the bright palette, rich textures (such as decorative columns), and cornu­copia of artful flourishes (along with all comforts and excellent service) have brought new chill to Midtown.

The Alila resort has reopened after last year’s storms better than ever, with 15 safari-style glamp­ing tents with canyon views and 59 renovated modern-rustic rooms. The tents are the only luxury digs in Big Sur that take kids of any age.

Wow Factor: New outdoor cabanas with two treatment tables and a copper tub for two overlooking the redwood forest.

The gorgeous redesigned comeback of a smallish 1930s Art Deco retreat of the rich and famous, between Miami Beach and Bal Harbour. The 77 beach-chic rooms are cool and crisp, and the Sirenuse restaurant, transplanted from the Sersale family’s famed hotel in Positano, is the new place to see and be seen.

Wow Factor: An Aperol Spritz in the Sirenuse bar at sunset, when the real magic happens.

Arguably the most extraordinary new dining/lodging experience in America: a luxurious five-room inn in Healdsburg over a 55-seat two-Michelin-star restaurant with 11-course tasting menus. The chef/owner is Kyle Connaughton (formerly of London’s Fat Duck), his wife Katina runs the nearby farm, and they both obsess over every detail of food, decor, and service.

Wow Factor: Everything is Instagrammable, and the Japanese room-service breakfast is a showstopper.

Contemporary in design but set partly in a 1907 farmhouse (with pool) in St. Helena, Las Alcobas offers the best of Napa’s two worlds: It has a serene, vineyard setting (adjacent to Beringer, with terraces overlooking the vines), and it’s just minutes from some of the area’s best restaurants and shops.

Barry Sternlicht’s eco-luxury hotel, with views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and the skyline, has put Brooklyn on the hospitality map. Its salvaged materials are both virtuous and lend warmth to the stylish interiors, its eco cred is for real, and each of the 194 rooms has floor-to-ceiling windows.

Wow Factor: Taking in Manhattan from the rooftop bar—or from the hammock in your room.

When Larry Ellison bought up Lanai five years ago, he poured millions into by far the most over-the-top resort in America. The activities—including clay shooting, horseback riding, hiking, biking, UTV rides, and helicopter tours—are matched by the luxury of the mahogany-embellished interiors.

Wow Factor: Watching the dolphins in Hulopoe Bay (they’re not captive, just fans).

The city was in need of a superb new property, and this has exceeded all expectations. One of the tallest buildings in Beverly Hills, it has L.A.-at-your-feet views from the rooftop pool, all rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, and two of the three restaurants are by Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Wow Factor: The Signature Suites come with an Aston Martin for your use.

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